Apparatus for dyeing



Patented Nov. 29, I898. R. M. HUNTER. v APPARATUS FOR DYEING.

Application filed June 18, 1896.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

llllv )'(nvenror No. 6|4,868. Patented Nbv. 29, I898. a. mquunnzn.

APPARATUS FOR DYEING.

(Application filed June 18, 1896.)

2 Sheets-Sheet (No Model.

llllli llr UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrch.

RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, OF PHILADELPHIA; PENNSYLVANIA;

APPARATUS. FOR DY EING.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent NO. 614,868, dated N ovember 29, 1898.

Application filed June 18, 1896. Serial No. 595,987. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, of the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Methods of and Apparatus for Dyeing Textile Fiber, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to the method and apparatus for dyeing textile fiber in the raw state; and it consists of certain improvements fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

Heretofore it has been customary in dyeing cotton before being made into yarn to subject the cotton as it comes from the cardingengine to the dye liquor, and after being boiled therein for the necessary length of time it is removed and subjected to a second combing to bring it back into condition capable of being spun. The sliver before being dyed has its fibers brought to a parallel condition by the action of the comb of the carding-engine but this condition is destroyed by the dyeing operation because the boiling mats and tangles the fiber to such an extent that it must be recombed or carded to again put it into proper condition for spinning. The main objections to this method are that it is slow, expensive by consuming time and labor, is productive of great loss in material due to the second combing, and produces a tendency in the fiber to curl.

The object of my invention set out in this application is to overcome the defects of the method heretofore employed and enumerated above, and in securing these results I employ a bath of dye liquor brought to a temperature just below'boiling and then subjecting the sliver as it comes from the carding-engine to the said bath of dye liquor and produce the penetrating action of the dye liquor by cansin g air or gas to circulate through the dye liquor and fiber being dyed. This may be accomplished by inclosing the sliver in an air-tight dye kettle or vat supplying air to the liquor adjacent to the sliver and creating a partial vacuum above the liquor, so as to cause the equivalent of the boiling action at a low temperature and Without the attendant defects. In place of employing a partial vacuum to induce circulation of the air I may force the air or gas through the liquor and cause it to pass through the sliver to be dyed, as this would secure the full penetration of the liquor into the sliver. A given amount of warmth in the dyeing operation is advantageous and practically necessary; but an excess or that equal to 212 Fahrenheit is injurious, since it produces matting of the cotton. The lack of the boiling action at atmospheric temperature is compensated for by the forced circulation due to the air, Whether the same be sucked or forced through the liquor. In forcing the air through the liquor the subdivision would hardly be as great as in causing its circulation by creating and maintaining a partial vacuum within thevat above the liquor, and I would say, furthermore, that by the employment of this partial vacuum I may cause the boiling effects at a temperature less than 212 Fahrenheit, and consequently in this manner avoid matting to a greater or less extent and Without causing positive circulation of air through the dye liquor and cotton. In the processes heretofore in practice the matted cotton had to be recombed to straighten its matted and curled fibers, and this not only caused expense in time and labor, as'I have before pointed out, but necessitated a serious loss of good fiber and which by the process of dyeing in the skein would be saved. The losses in dyeing in the sliver or raw condition were equal to if not greater than the increased expense of dyeing in the skein, and hence there was no object or advantage in dyeing in the raw state. By the process herein set out, however, this is changed, as the desired object may be secured without loss of material and with a minimum of labor and expense.

In carrying out my invention with suction I provide a vat to contain the dye liquor providedwith steam-pipes to heat the liquor and an air-tight cover to seal the top. I also provide a frame adapted to be lowered into the vat and provided with a series of mandrels, upon which the slivers are WOUHd'OI' coiled. I prefer to cause these mandrels to rotate slowly during the dyeing operation to bring to the upper side all portions alike. WVhile so rotating in the dye liquor I cause a partial vacuum to be created in the upper part of the vat, and thereby cause the liquor to burst into the pressure is alone required in operating .myprocess. The chamber Q. may be provided agitation at a temperature below that of 212 Fahrenheit. This agitation may also be increased by supplying air to the interior of the inandrels and allowing it to escape through aperturesinto the dye liquor and pass upward through the material being dyed.

In carrying out my invention with compressed air I force the air under pressure through the pipes moving with the mandrelcarrying frame into and through the perforated sides of the mandrels and thence into the dye liquor. The air becomes heated in contact with the dye liquor, and in passing through the sliver upon the mandrel insures the proper penetration of the same at a temperature below 212 Fahrenheit. The mandrels in rotating bring all parts of the sliver to position to be acted on equally, and this is most important, since air will not descend and escapes into the dye liquor only within the space bounded by the wound sliver and at the mandrel. The mandrels are removable from the frame of the vat and adapted to be inserted in a winding-machine when the sliver is being wound upon them, and are further provided with a movable or adjustable support, so that after the winding operation and before the dyeing operation begins the sliver may be loosened, so as to hang loosely upon the rotating mandrel. While I prefer to r0- tate the mandrels in the dyeing operation, I do not confine myself thereto.

My improvements will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,

in which- Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 1s a cross-section of same on line as a; of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on line 3 y of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the mandrel for bolding the sliver before and during the dyeing operation.

A is the dye-vat, and has steam-coils B at the bottom.

0 is a lid or cover, which may be adjusted with a fairly packed or tight joint 0.

D is the frame for carrying the mandrels, and is preferably formed of copper or bronze and made of tubes. It is made box-shaped and has a lower side pipe F, provided at intervals, nipples II, and flanges G. These nipples communicate through the pipes of the frame with the air-supply pipe D, which projects olf laterally from the top of the frame, so as to extend outside the vat in the dyeing operation. This extension is provided with a valve D and a flexible downward extension D, adapted by a coupling D to be connected with the pressure-pipe 0, leading directly or through a reservoir P to the pump P. The suction-pipe S of the pump may connect with a vacuum'chamber Q and this by a pipe R with the upper part of the vat. A valve r and pipe B may be employed to control the escape of the air into the atmosphere when with a vacuum-valve g to control the extent of vacuum and insure its remaining constant. A valved suction-pipe S may be employed when pressure alone is used.

Returning to the frame D, I employ a support J on the opposite side to the tube F, and this is provided with a series of tubular bearings J directly opposite to the nipples H, and in these I journal spindles K, having sprocket-wheels Z on the outer'ends. On the other ends of the spindles K, I arrange springs L, acting upon a collar L to press it toward a pin 70. About the sprocket-wheels Z I pass a chain (1 and employ intermediate guide or idler wheels e to insure the chain against slipping off of wheels Z. Then the frame D is adjusted within the vat, the chain 61 rests upon the sprocket-Wheel M, which is secured to the inner end of a shaft m, passing through a stuffing-box ll" in the side of the vat and provided on the outside with a handwvheel or crank M By turning the shaft m by hand or power the spindles K may be rotated.

The mandrel I is clearly shown in Fig. 4 and consists of an inner perforated tube 1 and an outer perforated tube 1, connected together at one end by an annular head I and at the other end by a screw-plug I Surrounding the mandrel,between the middle and one end, I arrange an annular wooden disk J. Loosely supported near the other end I arrange a similar wooden disk J, but make it adjustable longitudinally, and provide it with two heavy-wire spring-catches j, adapted to catch in apertures i t" in the mandrels outer tube 1 for adjustment. After the sliver has been wound upon this mandrel in connection with the carding-machine I adjust the movable disk J toward the disk J for the purpose of loosening up the sliver and bringing it to a condition to dye uniformly. When this is done, a cage composed of two parts N N is slipped over the ends of the mandrel and the parts fastened together to prevent the sliver falling away. This cage may be simply of wire or covered with an open-woven fabric 01, which would have a greater tendency to break up the air passing through the dye liquor, and thus make the dyeing operation more uniform. If desired, the cage may be composed wholly of fabric, like a bag, with a hole in its end and tied around the mandrel at its open end. The mandrel so loaded and adjusted is applied to the frame D by entering the end of the spindle K into the recessed end of plug 1 which has notches to receive the pin 70, and thus insure the mandrel rotating with the spindle and then pressing back the spindle and compressing the spring L until the other end I can be placed over the nipple H, as shown in Fig. 2. It will be understood thatanumber of such loaded mandrels are inserted upon the frame before it is lowered into the vat.

When the frame is lowered into the dyevat by any suitable hoisting apparatus, such as a light crane, the lid 0 of the vat is placed on a connection D, completed with pipe 0. The valve 61 is then opened and the admission of air under pressure is controlled by the valve D It is evident that it may be controlled by valve 61 instead, if desired. The compressed air is thus delivered through the piping of the frame D and through nozzles H into the hollow mandrels I, from which it escapes through the holes to the inner side of the cotton wound thereover, causing the dye liquor to penetrate the same and perform substantially the effect of the strong boiling action without its objectionable qualities. While this operation is going on the dye liquor is preferably kept at a temperature somewhat below boiling and the hand-wheel M is rotated, so as to slowly turn the mandrels, and thereby insure all portions of the cotton being subjected to the action of the dye liquor to the same'degree. By this process I secure the desirable results of the heat from the dye liquor without the objectionable results from excessive temperature which is always present when the dye liquoris brought to 212 Fahrenheit. If pressure alone is employed, the lid 0 may be left off, but when the circulation of the air is induced partly or wholly by the creation of a partial vacuum the lid 0 must be placed on the Vat and by the packing 0 make the vat practically airtight or sufficiently so to secure the circulation. When this is done, the partial vacuum produced in the vacuum-chamber Q is caused to exert its influence upon the interior of the vat and induce a circulation of air through the spindles I. hen pressure alone is employed, the valved pipe S is left open. If the lid C is on, then the valve 1" is opened. If the circulation is to be secured by the partial vacuum alone, then the pipe D is left open to the atmosphere. The advantage of employing the inner perforated tube I as well as the outer perforated tube I is to secure a uniform distribution of the air, whether it be circulated bypressure or vacuum, and this insures the uniform dyeing operation. After the dyeing operation the lid 0 is removed, the coupling D separated, and the frame D lifted out. The mandrels are then disconnected, the cage N N is removed, and the dyed cotton taken off. The result of this operation is a most perfect and uniform dyeing without matting 'or curling of the cotton, and hence without loss. The fiber of the cotton lies straight and in a most satisfactory condition for spinning.

I do not confine myself to the details of the apparatus herein set forth, though I prefer it as being excellently adapted for the purpose.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In apparatus for dyeingraw fibrous material, the combination of a vat having provision at the top for the escape of air and vapor and containing dye liquor, a removable frame adapted to be inserted and removed from the top of said vat, one or more detachable hollow perforated spindles carried by the said frame independently of the vat and u pon'which the raw fibrous material is loosely wound and by which it is held continuously submerged in the dye liquor, and means to cause air or gas from outside the vat to flow continuously through the spindles and from the interior thereof outwardly into the dye liquor within the material supported upon said spindles to produce in effect a boiling action at a low temperature and a positive circulation of the dye liquor at the same time both inwardly and outwardly between the strands of the fibrous material whereby it penetrates the raw fibrous material without passing through the spindles or leaving the vat.

2. In apparatus for dyeing raw fibrous material, the combination of a vat having provision at the top for the escape of air and vapor and containing dye liquor, a removable frame adapted to be inserted and removed from the top of said vat, one or more detachable hollow perforated spindles carried by the said frame independently of the vat and upon which the raw fibrous material is loosely wound and by which it is held continuously submerged in the dye liquor, means for rotating the spindles upon the frame and about their own axes, and means to cause air or gas from outside the vat to flow continuously through the spindles and from the interior thereof outwardly into the dye liquor within the material supported'upon said spindles to produce in efiect a boiling action at a low temperature and a positive circulation of the dye liquor at the same time both inwardly and outwardly between the strands of the fibrous material whereby it penetrates the raw fibrous material without passing through the spindles or leaving the vat.

3. In apparatus for dyeing raw fibrous material, the combination of a vat, a removable frame adapted to be inserted and removed from said vat, one or more detachable hollow perforated spindles rotatably j ournaled upon the said frame and upon which the raw fibrous material is loosely supported and rotated, means for rotating the said spindles upon the frame and about their own axes, and means to cause air or gas to flow through the spindles into the dye liquor while rotating whereby a large volume of air or gas is made to flow through the dye liquor to cause it to penetrate the raw fibrous material without entering the spindle or leaving the vat.

4. In apparatus for'dyeing raw fibrous ma terial, the combination of a vat, a removable frame adapted to be inserted and removed from said vat, one or more detachable hollow perforated spindles carried by the said frame upon which the raw fibrous material is loosely supported, a removable 'pervious cage surrounding the middle portion of each spindle for confining the raw fibrous material in a loose condition upon the spindles and per ICO r a se;

initting its strands to shift relatively to each other, and means to cause air or gas to flow through the spindles into the dye liquor whereby the said dye liquor is made to penetrate the raw fibrous material and into and out of the cages without entering the spindles or leaving the vat.

5. In apparatus for dyeing raw fibrous material, the combination of a vat, a removable frame adapted to be inserted and removed from said vat, one or more detachable hollow perforated spindles carried by the said frame upon which the raw fibrous material is loosely supported, removable means surrounding the middle portion of each spindle for confining the raw fibrous material in a loose condition upon the spindle consisting of a pervious covering or cage made in detachable parts approaching the spindle upon each side of its center, and means to cause air or gas to flow through the spindles into the dye liquor whereby the dye liquoris made to penetrate the raw fibrous material without flowing through the spindle or leaving the vat.

O. In apparatus for dyeing raw fibrous inaterial, the combination of a vat, a removable frame adapted to be inserted and removed from said vat, one or more detachable hollow perforated spindles carried by and removable with the said frame upon which the raw fibrous material is loosely supported and provided with annular disks relatively adjustable to or from each other over which the raw fibrous material is wrapped and sustained away from the perforations of the spindle, and means to force air or gas to flow through the spindles into the dye liquor to cause the dye liquor to penetrate the raw fibrous material without leaving the vat.

7. In apparatus for dyeing raw fibrous material, the combination with a dye-vat, one or more hollow perforated spindles supported within the vat and normally submerged in the dyeliquor and upon which the raw fibrous material to be dyed is very loosely wound, means for rotating the said spindles while submerged upon their own axes, and means for causing air or gas unmixed with dye liquor to fiow through the spindles from the inside outwardly whereby the dye liquor is fully circulated through the material without leaving the vat.

S. In apparatus for dyeing raw fibrous material, the combination with a dye-vat, means for heating the dye liquor in the vat to a temperature below 212 Fahrenheit, one or more hollow perforated spindles normally supported within and submerged in the dye liquor in the vat and upon which the raw fibrous material to be dyed is very loosely wound, means for rotating the said spindles upon their longitudinal axes while wholly submerged, and means for causing air or gas to flow through the spindles into the dye liquor, whereby said dye liquor is fully circulated through the material without leaving the vat.

9. In apparatus for dyeing raw fibrous material, the combination with a dye-vat, one or more hollow perforated spindles supported and submerged in the dye liquor within the vat and upon which the raw fibrous material to be dyed is loosely wound, means for rotating the said spindles upon their longitudinal axes, removable means rotating with said spindles for confining the raw fibrous mate rial in a loose condition upon the spindles and permitting its strands to shift relatively to each other, and means for causing air or gas to flow through the spindles into the dye liquor while submerged in the dye liquor whereby the dye liquor is circulated through the material without leaving the vat.

10. In apparatus for dyeing raw fibrous material, the combination of a vat, means to heat the dye liquor, a normally stationary frame removably adapted to the interior of the vat and having a tubular part formed with one or more horizontal tubular nozzles and an air or gas supply pipe, one or more horizontal hollow perforated spindles for holding the fibrous material detachably adapted to said nozzles, means carried by the frame acting upon the opposite ends of said spindles for temporarily holding them horizontally in place upon the frame, and means to circulate air or gaseous media through the tubular nozzles supplypipe and spindles into the dye liquor in the vat whereby the dye liquor is circulated through the loose material without leaving the vat.

11. In apparatus for dyeing raw fibrous material, the combination of a vat, means to heat the dye liquor, a normally stationary frame movably adapted to the interior of the vat and having a tubular part formed with one or more horizontal-tubular nozzles and an air or gas supply pipe, one or more horizontal hollow perforated spindles for holding the fibrous material detachably adapted to said nozzles, means extending to the outside of the vat for rotating the spindles upon their longitudinal axes, means carried by the frame acting upon the opposite ends of said spindles for temporarily holding them horizontally in place upon the frame, and means to circulate air or gaseous media through the tubular nozzles supply-pipe and spindles into the dye liquor in the vat whereby the dye liquor is circulated through the loose material without leaving the vat.

12. A spindle for a dyeing apparatus consisting of a hollow perforated tube, combined with two annular disks or supports encircling the spindle at a distance from each end and over which the material to be dyed is wound, the said disks or supports being relatively adjustable to or from each other whereby the tension of the material dyed may be adjustable by the said disks or supports, and a detachable inclosing pervious envelop surrounding the tube and inclosing the disks and loosely-wound materials being dyed.

18. A spindle for a dyeing apparatus con sisting of a hollow outer perforated tube closed at both ends, and an inner perforated tube open at one end whereby the pressure of the air or gas is evenly distributed at the surface of the outer tube, combined with two annular disks or supports encircling the outer tube at a considerable distance from each end for loosely sustaining the material to be dyed at a distance from the outer tube and relatively adjustable to or from each other upon the outer tube and within the material being dyed.

14. In a spindle structure for a dyeing-machine, the combination of outer tube I having perforations, the inner tube 1 also having perforations, headl attached to one end of the inner tube and supporting the outer tube, head I secured to the opposite ends of both inner and outer tubes, and annular supports over which the material to be dyed is loosely wound longitudinally of the spindle made relatively adjustable and supported upon the outer tube at a distance from each end.

15. In a spindle structure for a dyeing-machine, the combination of outer tube I having perforations, the inner tube 1 also having perforations, head I attached to one end of the inner tube head I secured to the opposite ends of both inner and outer tubes, and annular supports J, J upon the outer tube at a distance from each end and over which the material to be dyed is loosely wound longitudinally made relatively adjustable upon the outer tube by means of spring-catchesj upon one of the disks.

16. In apparatus for dyeing fibrous material, the combination of a dye-vat, a hollow horizontal perforated spindle upon which the material to be dyed is loosely wound and during the dyeing operation continuously sustained below the liquid-level having communication outside of the vat to permit supply of air or gas to the spindle, means to keep the temperature of the dye liquor to a temperature below boiling, and continuously-acting suction-creating devices connecting with the vat above the level of the dye liquor for simultaneously and continuously causing the air or gas from outside the vat to flow into and through the spindle and continuously into and through the dye liquor to circulate the said dye liquor through the material and prevent it flowing through the spindle or leaving the vat.

17. In apparatus for dyeing raw fibrous material, the combination of a dye-vat containing dye liquor, a substantially tight lid for the vat, a hollow perforated spindle upon which the material to be dyed is loosely wound continuously submerged in the dye liquor and connected bya tubular extension outside the vat to permit a continuous supply of air or gas to the interior of the spindle, means to keep the temperature of the dye liquor to a temperature below boiling, and continuouslyacting suction-creating devices connecting with the vat above the level of the dye liquor for creating a partial vacuum continuously above the dye liquor within the vat during the dyeing operation and a continuous pres sure within the hollow spindle for causing the air or gas to flow from outside the vat through the spindle continuously into and through the dye liquor and circulate the dye liquor con tinuously through the material being dyed without flowing through the spindle or leav ing the vat.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

' R. M. HUNTER.

Witnesses:

R. M. KELLY, WM. L. EVANS, 

